Ind. tries to strip Planned Parenthood

The Indiana State Legislature has voted to strip Planned Parenthood of its federal funding, putting the state on a path to barring the group from receiving public dollars.

The legislation now hits the desk of Gov. Mitch Daniels, putting the presidential contender who has famously called for a “truce” on social issues squarely in the middle of a contentious, national debate over Planned Parenthood’s federal funding.

Story Continued Below

Daniels now has one week to veto the bill or it becomes law without his signature.

The bill, which passed the Indiana State House late Wednesday afternoon, would bar the state from entering into contracts with abortion providers, making an exception for hospitals and ambulatory centers. Planned Parenthood of Indiana operates 28 clinics in Indiana, eight of which are Title X funded clinics. The group received about $3 million in federal funding last year. State officials have speculated that the bill, if passed, would lead to the state losing all $4 million in federal family planning dollars that it received last year.

Groups on both sides of the issue tell POLITICO they expect Daniels to sign the bill, despite his reluctance to engage in social issues.

“He’s always kept fiscal matters a top priority but proven consistently that he can and will deal with social issues like abortion at the same time,” Mike Fitcher, president of the Indiana Right to Life, previously told POLITICO. “We expect that this would be a bill he will personally see the value of and would see as a bill good for Indiana.”

In addition to defunding Planned Parenthood, the bill, if signed, will ban abortions after 20 weeks, following similar restrictions passed earlier this month by Kansas, Idaho and Oklahoma.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 6:05 p.m. on April 27, 2011.